Psychologist sentenced to 25 years in prison for Social Security fraud

September 25, 2017

Psychologist Alfred Bradley Adkins was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison for his part in the biggest Social Security fraud in U.S. history.

Adkins was part of a fraud ring orchestrated by disability lawyer Eric C. Conn and Social Security judge David B. Daugherty. Adkins filled out bogus mental evaluations for Conn's clients, saying they were disabled without ever conducting examinations.

The scam would have cost the government at least $600 million in fraudulent benefits had it not been caught, and approximately $93 million had already been paid out.

Conn and Dougherty both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 years and 4 years respectively. Adkins, however, forced the case to trial and prosecutors said he lied during the trial. Adkins' 25-year sentence was more than the government was seeking, but the judge said it was appropriate given the massive size of the fraud and the four charges Adkins was convicted of: mail fraud, wire fraud, making false claims and conspiracy.